FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. -- The University of Arizona football team stepped away from the practice field on Friday afternoon to participate in a pair of training sessions of a different sort with U.S. Army Soldiers here on post.

UA's defensive players and specialists spent two hours at the always entertaining Leadership Reaction Courses, which, unlike obstacle courses, challenge the mental aspects of decision making rather than physical endurance or ability. Meanwhile, across the post, the offense spent its afternoon in the EST 2000 Simulator, facing a series of situational combat scenarios in the simulator.

On Friday evening, players and coaches attended a dinner at Thunder Mountain Activity Center (TMAC), where Maj. Gen. John Custer was the featured speaker. An avid college football fan, Custer described the similarities between the UA team and the U.S. Army team. Included was driving home the importance of key words for any successful team: leadership, sacrifice and discipline.

The Wildcats were scheduled to practice on Saturday morning, but will instead just attend position meetings before another Army event. Army Rangers will showcase some of their military dogs in a demonstration at the practice field. It's new to the standard itinerary and should be a fun outing for all. Head Coach Mike Stoops joked with players that he will don the "dog suit" for the demonstration. Whether he does or not remains to be seen, but someone will.

Arizona will conclude its football activities in this part of the state with a scrimmage at Buena High School in Sierra Vista on Saturday. The scrimmage will begin at 5 p.m.